Method and apparatus for resistance cooking



Jam 26, 1955 M. w. LEE, SR., ETAL 3,167,431

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR RESISTANCE COOKING i l I. l l l I 67 l |/H l I f +r l ,f l l l f f '86 l l... /I 78 L 0( 82 l -*3 46- 1 87 H24. F|G.|

/o? m8 I /06 MAURICE W. LEE.,SR. MAURICE W. LEE,JR. 62 64. 62 64 INVENToRs 88 FIG' 4 88 ATTORNEY Jan. 26, 1965 M, W` LEE, 5R, ETAL 3,167,431

METHGD AND APPARATUS FOR RESISTANCE COOKING Filed Feb. 2, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 82 /o 887" @4 af, 3;* 1

6 /4 94 32 9o /04 I Q l? f @m1 @88 uw n30 3 5 4 .l FIG. 2

n ab (1687 MAURICE W EE,SR.

MAURICE W. I EE,JR.

INVENToRs l E fl.)

ATTORNEY United States Patent Oiice 3,167,431 METHD AND APPARATUS FR RESISTANCE CGKENG Maurice W. Lee, Sr., and Maurice W. Lee, Jr., both of Box 188, Boley, Okla. Filed Feb. 2, 196i, Ser. No. 86,664 4 Claims. (Cl. Sill-1) The present invention relates to cooking devices and more particularly to a utensil for cooking foods by electrical resistance wherein the internal resistance of the food itself is used to impede the flow of current and thereby increase the temperature of the food to a degree which will cook the latter.

Electrical cooking is well known in the art of cooking, however, electrical resistance cooking has not been generally adopted because of the ditiiculty and expense of adapting this method of cooking vfor the use of conventional Wiring provided in most dwellings or eating establishments.

The principal object of the instant invention is to provide a device for cooking foods such as ground or boneless meat such as hamburgers, sausage or tenderized steaks.

Another important object is to reduce the time ordinarily required for cooking such foods as mentioned hereinabove.

Another object is to provide a cooking device of this class which may be connected with any conventional household current `wherein the food stuiis being cooked provides suicient resistance to the current to insure that the circuit will not be overloaded. i

Another object is to provide a cooker of this class wherein the resistance of the food stuffs raises the temperature of the latter to a degree of temperature sumcient to quickly cook the same.

An additional object is to provide adevice equipped with spaced electrical conductor plates for receiving lfood stus to be `cooked therebetween. A

We have found that if food, such as ground beef, is

placed between two electrical `conducting plates con-4 nected` with of 11S-120 volts the current will rise to a value of 4() to 50 amperes in' afewlseconds which will cook the meat in approximately A2() seconds. This excessive current can not be usedrwith conventional wiring `which is normally adapted for approximately jl5 amperes.

j Other objectionable features have been noted besides the excessive amount of current when using conventional 11S-120 volts, such as arcing at points of near contact between the conductor platesand between the plates and meat being cooked resulting in an 'unpalata-ble flavor, Wehave Ifound that the ideal EMF. for this cooking process lies between 45 to 60'volts. At this voltage arcing between the meat and conductor` plates is practically eliminated and the current used is less than 12 amperes. The cooking time, when using this lower voltage, is. approximately 45 secondsfora quantity of ground meat, such as a hamburger, and the cooked meat has a palatable avor. This desirable voltage and ampere rating may be obtained by the use of a transformer, choke coil or resistor installed in the circuit, however, the cost of the transformer is prohibitive for a household utensil while the resistor is less costly but wastes an excessive quantity of electrical energy. It is therefore a furtherlimportant object of this invention to provide a relatively small cooking utensil which will attain ideal cooking conditions at a relatively low cost. Y Other objects are to provide an electrical resistance cooking device which will provide an improved davor to the food stuffs by thorough cooking, removal of fats Patented Jan. 26, 19654 from the foods by a relatively `high temperature, an accelerated cooking time, safety of operation` and a `unit which may be quickly and easily cleaned. v

The present invention accomplishes these and other objects by providing a housing containing a pair of electrodes in spaced-apart relation below a third electrode for receiving ground meat, or the like, to be"cooked therebetween. A source of electrical energy is connected with a pair of electrodes to complete a circuit through the food stuff and the third electrode.

Other objects will be apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying two sheets of drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of lthe device; j

FIGURE 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken substantially along line 2-2 of FIG. l; i

FIGURE 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view 'taken substantially along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2; and,

FIGURE 4 is a schematic wiring diagram illustrating the manner of connecting at least two of t-he devices to a single source of electrical energy. Y

Like characters of reference designate `like parts in those figures of the drawings in which they occur.

Vupper surfaceof the basemember 12. Y

In the drawings: l u The reference numeral le indicates the device, as `aV whole, which is rectangular in general coniiguration.`

The device 1tl-includes a base member 12 and a cover or lid 14. `The base 12 isfprovided with `a horizontal top portion 16 having a central aperturelS anddepend ing rearward `and forward Walls 20 `and 22, respectively, joined by side walls 24 and 26. Each of the wallsor l sides may be recessed` intermediate their ends, as at 28,

to define a plurality of depending legs or supports `30.

The cover 14 is formed similarly tothe base member 12 including a horizontal top portionZ and depending forward and rearward walls 34 and 36, respectively, which are joined by side walls 38 and 40. The lowermost edge surface 42 `of the cover wallscontiguously contact the (upper surface of the base top adjacent its periphery when the cover is in closed position. 1 The cover 14 is hingedly connected tothe base12rby a pain of lugs or `ears 44 connected in spaced relation to the cover: wall 36 yand cooperatively. positionedadjacent a similar pairA of ears 46l formedlon the rearward'base'wall Zik A hinge` pin 48 extends' through each respectivedug 44 and 46.101* pivotal movement of the cover toward and away from the A rectangular supportl50formed of `electrical insulating material, is'centrally positioned on .he upper surface of the base top 16. The `lengthfof the support is slightly less than the distance betwenthe forward and rearward walls 34 and 36 ofthe cover. The supporti() is provided with transverse depending "support `portions 52 ari`df54 adjacent its forward and rearward ends,l respectively.` The forwardsurface of `the support portion 52 is 'provided withra central aperture 56 for loosely receiving an L- shaped pin 58 connected to the upper surface of thelbase 12 adjacent its forward edge for maintaining the support 50 in place. The support 50 is provided with a central longitudinally extending upstanding partition 60. A pair of electrodes 62 and 64, preferably plate-like and semicircular in general conguration, is positioned 0n and connected-to the support S0 on opposing sides of the partition 60. l

As seen in FIG. 3, the .llppereurface ofeach` of the electrodes v62 and 64 are provided with anindentation or recess 65`inwardly of their peripheral edges to form a dish-like appearance of the upper surface `ofgth'e assembled electrodes 62 and 64 and partition 69,1' Each -of the electrodes 62 ,and 64 isfurther provided wi'thna' plurality of transversev openings `67 to permit iluids contained by Y 3 the, food stuffs to pass through the openings 67 as more fully explained-hereinbelow.

The electrodes 62 and 64 include opposing depending support lugs 66 and 68 connected to the respective electrodeindepending'relation and which are receiveduby co-ope'rating apertures 70 and 72, respectively, formed in the'top portion 16 of the base 12. The purpose of the Vinsulating supports 66 and 68 is to preclude any tipping ortilting action of the electrodes 62 and 64.

A lswitch element comprising `a pair of conventional electrical conducting pins or prongs '74 and 76 are connected, respectively, to the `upper surface of the conductor plates 62 and 64 above the insulating support portion 52.

The ltop portion 320i the cover 14 is provided with an aperture 7S adjacent its forward wall 34 for admitting a 'temperature suicient to cook the latter. Moisture and fats contained by the meat provides good conduction for the current and such fluids or fats draining out of the meat as it is cooked is collected by thel recess 65 and is permitted to drain through the openings 67 into the receptacle it). ,After the'elapse of a comparatively short time,

trodes and sliding the latter rearwardly out of contact with conventional electrical socket 8i) containing a pair of complemental switch elements connected with a source of electrical energy by wires 82. The socket 80 is positionedV within the cover aperture 73 by a clamping r'bracket 84 and a screw 86. At least one screw 87 secures .the socket 80 to the bracket 84. The socket Si) is adapted to receive the prongs 74 and 76 when the cover is in closed position.

A third electrode 88, preferablyplate-like and circular' in general configuration, is centrally secured to the lower surface `of the'` cover by interposing a disk 90,

Y Vformed of insulating material, between the electrode 8S and the cover 14. Screws 92.l secure the electrode 8S tothe `disk 9).V A locating pin 94, depending from the vlower surface` ofthe vcover 14,- is co-operativelyreceived by'a suitable aperture formed in the disk 9@ for properly Y 'positioning'the latter. A screw 96, inserted through the cover-14, isv threadedly engaged within the disk 90.

A liquid'holdirig receptacle or dish 100 is placed withinthe opening 18 in the base member. The size of thek dish, with respect to the opening l13, is such that the upper portion of. the dish wall contiguously contacts the edge offthe base forming the opening 18 thus supporting the dishiin spaced relation with respect to the supporting l surface, not shown, for the base. Diametrically the opening 18 is slightly greater than'the diameter of the recessy 65 formed in thefupper surface of the electrodes 4r'@6121 and 64. f ,l Y Y j Y A pair ,of handles 102" and 104 are connected, lrespec'- tively, to the forward walls v22 .and 34 of the base .and

cover .to facilitate raising and lowering thecover.'

' Referring'to FlG. 4, ione mannerof connectingaplurality of the devices to a sourcel of electrical energy i isf shown wherein the pairs .of .electrodesv 62 and 64 Yare connected by lwires 106, 107" and 108,. to a 230 voltv source of energy which completes a circuit through y'upper-or third electrodesSS toy simultaneously cooka plurality of 4rquantities ofv ground meat, or the'like. f

' Operation Y In operation "the cord 82 is connectedrwith anyrsuit-l able conventionaloutlet, not shown.` The cover is raised to open position and a quantity of ground meat, or the likegfsuch as a hamburger, not*y shown, is Yplaced upon the pair of electrodes 62 and 64. The cover is'then closed wherein the socket 80 lfrictionally contacts the prongs 74 and 76 and sets up a'iiow ofcurre'nt from one of the prongs through the respectivey connected Yelectrode l through the food -stuifpthroughthe upper or thirdelec-V trodeand back tothe other electrodegand its connected prong. Since the conventionalcurrent used is alternat ing current, the direction of ow changes with the frequency ofthe current. f Y

Staed more brieiiy, current owsbetween the prongs i Y-c'zponnected with the pair of electrodes rb'ymeans of the y xfoodfstulf in .contact iwith the upper or third electrode 1 wherein the food stuff vprovides a resistance to the current suflicient torreduce the amper'age to a desired rating and ,the inherent. resistance" Vof the` food stuff yto the iiowof current- ,raises the.: temperature Vof the 'foodstuff to a the pin 5S. The top or third electrode 88 and insulating disk 9@ are removed from the cover by simply removing the screw 96. The electrodes and dish may then be cleaned in a conventional manner.

' Obviously the invention is susceptible to some change or alteration without defeating its practicability, and we therefore dov not wish to be confined toi the preferred embodiment shown in the drawings and described herein, further than we are limited by the scope of the appended claims. Y

'We claim: Y Y Y Y l. An electrical resistance cooker, comprising: apbase member having a horizontal upper surface; a cover mem-V ber hingedly connected to said base member and forming a cooking compartment on the upper surface off said base member;l a pair of plate-like electrodes overlying the 'Y' upper surface of said base member in side by side spacedfV apart relation; electrical insulating lugs interposed between,

said base member and said pair of platelike electrodes and supporting the latter ina horizontal' plane spaced above the upper surface of said base member; a third plate-like planar surfaced electrode coextensive with respect to the lareav encompassed bysaid pair of electrodes secured with- Y in saidrcover in parallel space drrelation above said pair ofelectrodes; and means connected with a source of electrical energy and'each respective one'ovfsiaid pair of! plate-like electrodes, saidl 'pair of plate-like electrodes Vandsaid third plate-like electrode being adapted to comf plete a circuit .by ycontiguously contacting opposite sur-V faces of an article of electrical conducting food placed l therebetween, whereby the current voltage is reduced to a desired' maximum by the resistance ofthe food in passing from one of said pair of electrodes through thefood to said third electrode and back through ythe food to theV other one of said pair of electrodes.

- `2.Y An electrical cooker, compris1ng: Yabase, said Ybase lhaving a horizontal top po-rtion provided with a central opening; aV lcover member hingedly connectedv to saidV base, said cover having a horizontal top portion and de;

pending side walls forming a cooking compartment above the upper surface of said base;r a pair of semi-circular plate-like electrodes overlying the upper surface of said f base inside by side spaced-apart relation,v said pair of electrodes each having a semi-circular recess formed in Y' its upper surface inwardly of the circumference of the Y opening in said base top portion, said electrodes each having a plurality of openings therethrough within the re-V spective recess; an 'insulating partition interposed between adjacent edge surfaces of said pair of electrodes; elec-V Ytricalins'ulating lugs interposed between said base memberV and said pair of plate-like electrodes and supporting the latter in a horizontalplane spaced above the upper surface' of said'base member; r'st switch meansV connected withV each one of saidy pair of electrodes; a third planar surfaced Y plate-like circular electrode supportedV by said cover in parallel spaced relation with respect to said pair ofelectrodesjan insulating disk interposed between said Vthird electrode Iand the lowerlsurface of the topV portion of said cover; and second switch means carried by said cover connecting asource` of electrical energy kto Vsaid first switch means, said pair of plate-likeelectrcdes and said mental D third plate-like electrode being adapted to complete a circuit by contiguously contacting opposite surfaces of an article of electrical conducting food placed therebetween, whereby the current voltage is reduced to a desired maximum by the resistance of the food in passing from one of said pair of electrodes through the food to said third electrode and back through the food to the other one of said of electrodes.

3. A method of cooking food, comprising: providing a pair of conjunctively positioned electrode plates insulated from each other and connected to opposite poles of a source of alternating current; positioning `a third electrical conducting plate in spaced overlying relaton with respect to said pair of plates; completing a series circuit by placing electrical conducting food between said pair of plates and said third plate, whereby the electromotive force is reduced to a desired food cooking value by the current passing through two separate portions of the food.

4. An electrical cooker, comprising: a base member having a horizontal upper surface; a cover member hingedly connected to said base member, said cover having a horizontal top portion and havin-g depending walls forming a cooking compartment above the upper Surface of said base member; a pair of plate-like electrodes overlying the upper surface of said base member in spaced-apart relation; an electrical insulating partition interposed between said pair of electrodes; electrical insulating lugs interposed between said base member and said pair of plate-like ai?) electrodes and supporting the latter in a horizontal plane spaced above the upper surface of said base member; an electrical conductor means connected with each one of said pair of electrodes; a third plate-like planar surfaced electrode coextensive with respect to the area encompassed by said pair of electrodes disposed in parallel spaced relation with respect to said pair of electrodes; insulating means interposed between said third electrode and the lower surface of the top portion of said cover; and means carried by said cover connecting a source of electrical energy to said electrical conductor means, said pair of plate-like electrodes and said third platealike electrode being adapted to complete a circuit by contiguously contacting opposite surfaces of an article of electrical con D ducting food placed therebetween, whereby the current voltage is reduced to a desired maximum by the resistance of the food in passing from one of said pair of electrodes through the food to said third electrode and back through the food to the other one of said pair of electrodes.

References sited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,200,406 Watson May 14, 1940 2,243,993 Watson June 3, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS 594,781 Great Britain Nov. 19, 1947 

1. AN ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE COOKER, COMPRISING: A BASE MEMBER HAVING A HORIZONTAL UPPER SURFACE; A COVER MEMBER HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO SAID BASE MEMBER AND FORMING A COOKING COMPARTMENT ON THE UPPER SURFACE OF SAID BASE MEMBER; A PAIR OF PLATE-LIKE ELECTRODES OVERLYING THE UPPER SURFACE OF SAID BASE MEMBER IN SIDE BY SIDE SPACEDAPART RELATION; ELECTRICAL INSULATING LUGS INTERPOSED BETWEEN SAID BASE MEMBER AND SAID PAIR OF PLATE-LIKE ELECTRODES AND SUPPORTING THE LATTER IN A HORIZONTAL PLANE SPACED ABOVE THE UPPER SURFACE OF SAID BASE MEMBER; A THIRD PLATE-LIKE PLANAR SURFACED ELECTRODE COEXTENSIVE WITH RESPECT TO THE AREA ENCOMPASSED BY SAID PAIR OF ELECTRODES SECURED WITHIN SAID COVER IN PARALLEL SPACED RELATION ABOVE SAID PAIR OF ELECTRODES; AND MEANS CONNECTED WITH A SOURCE OF ELECTRICAL ENERGY AND EACH RESPECTIVE ONE OF SAID PAIR OF PLATE-LIKE ELECTRODES, SAID PAIR OF PLATE-LIKE ELECTRODES AND SAID THIRD PLATE-LIKE ELECTRODE BEING ADAPTED TO COMPLETE A CIRCUIT BY CONTIGUOUSLY CONTACTING OPPOSITE SURFACES OF AN ARTICLE OF ELECTRICAL CONDUCTING FOOD PLACED THEREBETWEEN, WHEREBY THE CURRENT VOLTAGE IS REDUCED TO A DESIRED MAXIMUM BY THE RESISTANCE OF THE FOOD IN PASSING FROM ONE OF SAID PAIR OF ELECTRODES THROUGH THE FOOD TO SAID THIRD ELECTRODE AND BACK THROUGH THE FOOD TO THE OTHER ONE OF SAID PAIR OF ELECTRODES.
 3. A METHOD COOKING FOOD, COMPRISING: PROVIDING A PAIR OF CONJUNCTIVELY POSITIONED ELECTRODE PLATES INSULATED FROM EACH OTHER AND CONNECTED TO OPPOSITE POLES OF A SOURCE OF ALTERNATING CURRENT; POSITIONING A THIRD ELECTRICAL CONDUCTING PLATE IN SPACED OVERLYING RELATION WITH RESPECT TO SAID PAIR OF PLATES; COMPLETING A SERIES CIRCUIT BY PLACING ELECTRICAL CONDUCTING FOOD BETWEEN SAID PAIR OF PLATES AND SAID THIRD PLATE, WHEREBY THE ELECTROMOTIVE FORCE IS REDUCED TO A DESIRED FOOD COOKING VALUE BY THE CURRENT PASSING THROUGH TWO SEPARATE PORTIONS OF THE FOOD. 